FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) – Bartolo Colon may not hit the ambitious target date he set for himself when he arrived at Red Sox camp last week, but the former Cy Young Award winner continues to impress his new team.

The right-hander threw 42 fastballs and changeups to backup catcher Doug Mirabelli over an 11-minute bullpen session Monday morning. Pitching coach John Farrell says the workout made it “a very good day” for the 34-year-old.

“For not being on the mound for three-and-a-half weeks, he threw the ball to both sides of the plate. He found the glove well,” said Farrell, who supervised the session as manager Terry Francona and most of the Red Sox starters headed to Jupiter for an exhibition against the Marlins. “He got through his front side to allow him to really carry the fastball through the zone. I’d say there was a few pitches that approached 90 (mph).”

Colon, who signed a one-year deal on Feb. 25 that could be worth up to $7 million, initially said he expected to pitch as early as March 9 against the Dodgers. Francona and Farrell have said the March 15 game against the Reds was a more likely target.

Farrell said Colon has thus far exceeded expectations, commending the burly pitcher’s strength and stamina in what was his first time on a mound since pitching in the Caribbean Series on Feb. 6.

“In terms of pure arm strength, he’s in a very good place,” Farrell said. “It’s a matter of repetition. Once we get into the up-down of the innings simulation and really getting into games, that will be a very clear indication of where he’s at as far as season readiness.”Colon, the second-winningest pitcher in baseball from 1998-2005, has won just seven games over the past two seasons with shoulder and elbow injuries.

The Red Sox, in need of insurance with Curt Schilling’s status uncertain this season, inked the former 20-game winner to what general manager Theo Epstein labeled a “low-risk, potentially high reward” deal. In a best-case scenario, Colon would challenge rookie Clay Buchholz, Kyle Snyder and Julian Tavarez for the fifth slot in the rotation.

Colon is scheduled to throw another bullpen session Wednesday, and could throw one more before he begins to face hitters in batting practice, Farrell said.

“He’s definitely motivated, no doubt about that,” Farrell said. “He’s been outstanding when it comes to following our lead and directions. He’s been very compliant. We had a chance to sit down and talk about the throwing program, what those progressive steps would be, and he sees no reason, at this point, to shortchange those or speed that up.”

Marlins 3, Red Sox 2

Andrew Miller hit a batter with his first pitch Monday, and his control failed to improve much after that.

The Marlins’ highly touted left-hander walked five in his first start of spring training, and he threw only 23 of 53 pitches for strikes. Still, he was part of a three-hitter and Florida beat the Boston Red Sox 3-2.

“I fell into the trap I had a little problem with last year,” Miller said. “You get a little wild, and how soon can you get out of it? It took me obviously way too long today.”

Miller pitched three hitless innings. Daniel Barone, the fourth of six Florida pitchers, was the winner and Lee Gardner worked the ninth for the save. Alexis Gomez’s RBI single drove in Paul Hoover in the seventh to put the Marlins ahead to stay against Justin Masterson.

With most of Boston’s regulars in Fort Myers for a “B” game against the Minnesota Twins, Miller and the Marlins faced a Red Sox lineup that included Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis and Dustin Pedroia. A standing room-only crowd rooted mostly for the defending World Series champs.

“I felt like we were in Boston,” Miller said. “That’s kind of the way it is. There are so many Boston fans.”

Miller was among six players acquired by Florida in a blockbuster December trade that sent Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to the Detroit Tigers. The Marlins hope the 22-year-old Miller is ready for a starting role less than two years after he was taken by the Tigers as the sixth overall pick in the 2006 draft.

“He’s an interesting guy, this tall, lanky lefty throwing across his body,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said. “You can see why they like him.”

Miller hit Ellsbury to start the game. He walked three in a row to load the bases in the second, and Ellsbury hit a sacrifice fly.

“The ball had life in the strike zone,” manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “He was just missing. The ball was moving everywhere in the strike zone, but it’s nothing to panic about.” Kyle Snyder, bidding for the fifth spot in the Boston rotation, allowed two hits in three scoreless innings.

“It was nice to get out there and get stretched out a little bit,” he said. “I feel like my body’s starting to accept longer outings.” Snyder is competing with Julian Tavarez, rookie Clay Buchholz and former Cy Young winner Bartolo Colon for a starting job.

“He threw the ball really well. He did a good job,” Francona said.

Florida catcher Matt Treanor hit a solo homer on his 32nd birthday.

“Anybody put a clock on him around the bases?” Gonzalez said.

Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez was scratched from the lineup with a sore left ankle, the result of a home-plate collision Sunday. X-rays taken Monday were negative.

Gonzalez said he expected Ramirez to play Tuesday. Rookie center fielder Cameron Maybin (hamstring) might rejoin the lineup this week, Gonzalez said.

AP-ES-03-03-08 1719EST